We’ve been burned before when it comes to LEGO-inspired MMOs. The 2010 release of LEGO Universe was doomed to failure almost before it was launched, closed less than 18 months later due to “unsatisfactory revenue“. However, that hasn’t stopped Funcom from announcing its own blocky online multiplayer experience, the descriptively-titled LEGO Minifigures Online.

Based on the “hugely successful” LEGO Minifigures brand (I know, who’d have guessed?), LEGO Minifigures Online is due out in the second half of 2014 and promises to bring the small, colourful characters to life in a new, adventure-filed world.

Lawrence Poe, Executive Producer on LEGO Minifigures Online explains:

We could not be more excited to be working with LEGO on such a great franchise. I think you could even say the team has been training to make this game since we were little kids. That excitement carries over into everything we do, and we’re throwing every ounce of our passion and creativity into the game. We are one hundred percent focused on delivering the fun, safe, quality experience that people expect when they think of LEGO minifigures.

Targeted primarily – but not totally – towards the children’s market, LEGO Minifigures Online is promising gameplay depth and “loads of crazy fun”, all without leaving bricks on the floor for you to step on.

You, and thousands of other gamers, are invited to visit Pirate World, Space World, Medieval World and “many others”, collecting minifigures and developing their unique abilities. Smash, build and collect – just like in the real world!

The game itself is expected to launch in the second half of next year, for iOS and Android as well as PC – which will come as both a standalone client or as a separate, browser-based version.